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sacrificed, continue to be practised with undiminished frequency in various parts of British India: and that pilgrimages to certain idolatrous temples in that country, are superintended by the British authorities, as sources of revenue to the Honourable East India Company's Go

vernment.

“That it further appears to your petitioners, that the existing regulations of the Suttee, have increased the number of human sacrifices; and that the system pursued by the local Government, which allows a premium to certain agents, known by the name of pilgrim hunters, has occasioned an unprecedented increase of the native superstitions, contrary to the purport of a resolution of your Honourable House, passed in the year one thousand eight hundred and thirteen, recognizing it as the duty of this country to introduce among our Indian fellow-subjects, the blessings of Christianity.

"Therefore your petitioners most earnestly implore your Honourable House, to adopt such measures as may be deemed most expedient and effectual for the suppression of such murders, and for the abolition of the Pilgrim Tax, as alike abhorrent from the British character, and opposed to the welfare of our Indian possessions; and thus to remove the stigma which attaches to our national character, and to relieve the inhabitants of British India from a cruel Scourge,

“And your petitioners will ever pray."

THE FORMATION OF A CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, ORMSKIRK, LANCASHIRE.

On Tuesday evening, Oct. 28, 1828, was formed in the town of Ormskirk, Lancashire, a church of the Independent denomination. The Rev. R. Slate, of Preston, delivered a very appropriate discourse on the occasion, in which he gave an interesting account of the state of this town, which has been nearly destitute of evangelical light, except what it derived from a small Wesleyan chapel, since the days of the puritans; when the pious Nathaniel Heywood was vicar of the church, from whence he was ejected by the Act of Uniformity, in the chancel of which he was, some years after, interred. The Rev. George Payne, A. M. Theological Tutor of the College at Blackburn, publicly recognized the formation of the church, and afterwards administered to them, and some members of neighbouring congregational churches, the ordinance of the Lord's Supper.

Several attempts had formerly been made to establish the Independent interest in this large and populous parish, containing about 13,000 souls; but, on account of strong prejudice and opposition, without any success, till February, 1826, where a spacious room, before part of a silk factory, was opened for divine worship, by the Lancashire County Union for the Spread of the Gospel: on which occasion, sermons were preached by the Rev. Dr. Raffles, and the Rev. S. Charrier, of Liverpool From that time it was mostly supplied by students from Blackburn till January, 1827, when Mr. W. R. Dawes first preached there, who, proving acceptable to the congregation, at their request continued to supply to the present time; and by the liberality of several individuals, the place of worship, which will contain about 300 persons, has been very commodiously fitted up with pews, &c.

on

In the morning of Wednesday, October 29, Mr. Dawes was ordained pastor over this infant church. The Rev. James Lister (Baptist) of Liverpool, began by reading and prayer; the Rev. G. Payne preached a very judicious sermon the nature of a Christian church, and proposed the usual questions; the Rev. S. Saunders (Baptist), offered up the ordination prayer with peculiar energy and pathos; the Rev. Dr. Raffles, (of whose church Mr. Dawes had been a member), delivered a most interesting and impressive charge to the minister, from 2 Tim. iv. 5. "Make full proof of thy ministry;" and the Rev. R. Maclean, of Liverpool, gave an excellent charge to the people, from 1 Cor. iv. 1. "Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God;" after which, the Rev. G. Greatbach, of Southport, concluded with prayer. Thirteen ministers were present; and many persons from distant parts, especially Liverpool, attended on the occasion, which was one of such peculiar interest, that the congregation, many of whom were affected to tears, expressed the highest satisfaction at the very solemn and appropriate manner in which the service was conducted. As the congregation has greatly increased since Mr. Dawes's residence in this place, and several persons appear to have received much spiritual benefit, we hope that the time to visit this dark neighbourhood is at length arrived; and that this small beginning will hereafter yield an abundant harvest to the glory of God in the conversion of souls. Sabbath School has also been established, at which the average attendance of the children is about 150.

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ORDINATION, &c.

On Thursday, 20th of November, the Rev. John Simmons was ordained to the pastoral office over the united churches of Helpringham and Heckington, Lincolnshire. The Rev. John Pain, of Horncastle, delivered the introductory discourse, and preached to the people from Deuteronomy i. 38., and the Rev. Ben. Byron, of Lincoln, (Mr. Simmons' Pastor,) presented the ordination prayer, and gave the charge to the minister from 1 Tim. iv. 16. The numerous auditory appeared deeply interested in the solemn services of the day. The population of the two villages considerably exceeds 2000, the congregations have been collected, and churches formed by the divine blessing on the labours of Mr. S. during the last two years.

On Thursday, January the 8th, the Rev. Arthur Tidman was publicly recognized as the Pastor of the Congregational Church assembling at Barbican Chapel, London, vacant by the removal of the Rev. Spedding Curwin to Frome.

The Rev. William Orme, of Camberwell, introduced the service by reading and prayer. The Rev Joseph Fletcher, M. A of Stepney, delivered a luminous introductory discourse on the principles of the Congregational system. The Rev. George Clayton, of Walworth, asked the usual questions, to which Mr. Thomas Challis, on behalf of the Church, and Mr. Tidman, for himself, returned very satisfactory replies. The Rev. Dr. Winter offered the intercessory prayer. The Rev. Andrew Reed addressed to the

pastor a discourse of unusual power, from 2 Tim. vii. 3-14 On Ministerial Perseverance, which, we are happy to announce, has just issued from the press, in answer to the very earnest wish of all the ministers who heard it. The Rev. John Clayton, Jun. preached to the people from Habb. iii. 2. on the Necessity of a Revival of Personal and Domestic Piety; and the Rev. Dr. Bennet closed the lengthened, but deeply interesting services with prayer.

RECENT DEATH.

year, the Rev. MATTHEW WILKS, the On the 29th of January, in his 83rd beloved and revered minister, for more than half a century, of the congregations at the Tabernacle and Tottenham Court Chapels, London.

NOTICES.

The Anniversary Meeting of the Society for the Relief of the Widows and Children of Protestant Dissenting Ministers of the Three Denominations, instituted 1733, will be held on Wednesday, the 1st of April next, when a sermon will be preached at the Old Jewry Chapel, removed to Jewin Street, Aldersgate Street, by the Rev. Isaiah Birt, of Hackney. Service to begin at twelve o'clock precisely. The friends of the Society will afterwards dine together at the Albion, in Aldersgate Street.

We are informed, that the Rev. George Payne, M. A. Theological Tutor at Blackburn, has accepted an invitation to become tutor of the Western Academy, about to be removed from Axminster to Exeter.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS AND MINOR CORRESPONDENCE.

COMMUNICATIONS have been received during the past month from the Reverend Dr. Henderson-the Rev. Messrs. G. Redford-Thomas Keyworth-J. Peggs-W. H. Stowell --W. Davies--W. R. Dawes --W. Urwick--and C. Moase.

Also from Messrs. J. F. Lloyd--H. K. Smithers - W. Ellerby-Thomas FosterJ. Storer--A. Shepherd-J. B. Williams.--A Countryman --Aeiva-Wintonian -a Constant Reader.

An unexpected supply of domestic intelligence has compelled us to defer the American Record until our next.

We can assure Aciva, that our correspondent J. S. is a resident at Cambridge, and is in no way influenced by interested motives.

The communication from " a Countryman," in " Devon," respecting the Western Academy, we must decline, unless he will favour us with his name and residence.

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Published, Nov.1829 by Mefs Holdsworth &Ball. 18S Pauls Church Yard.Lenden

CONGREGATIONAL MAGAZINE.

MARCH, 1829.

BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW.

THE LIFE AND TIMES OF ARCHBISHOP LAUD.*

ARCHBISHOP LAUD is, we suppose, no favourite with our readers. Nor are we aware of any reason why he should be so. A friend to genuine religion, he will never be considered by any who understand its nature. His name will live as an enemy to the Puritans as long as the records of this country shall last, and which the work now before us will assist to perpetuate. To British constitutional liberty he was as much opposed as to true religion; and and while the deeds of the Star Chamber shall be remembered, the name of Laud will be execrated as the chief inquisitor of that disgrace to English justice. There is no denying the principal facts in the life of this superstitious, tyrannical and persecuting priest, and all attempts to explain them away are vain and futile. They are written in characters that cannot be effaced or misunderstood. We had thought that the best friends of the Church of England now considered that the less that is said about Laud and his times the better. We live sufficiently distant from the period to which he belonged to be able to examine the subject with calm ness and candour; and as we

would not calumniate even the old Adversary himself, we should be sorry to speak evil of Archbishop Laud, strongly as we view his character, and detest his proceedings.

Wonders, it is said, never cease. So it would seem. Mr. James Nichols tried, some time ago, to persuade us that the Calvinists and Puritans were the enemies of civil and religious liberty, and that High Church Arminians were the friends and defenders of our constitution and our freedom! Those who swallowed the dose administered in "Calvinism and Arminianism Compared," will be prepared to digest the new nostrum-That Archbishop Laud was a saint and a martyr; every thing that was amiable as a man, excellent as a Christian, wise and conciliatory as a Prelate, in short, the glory of the Church of England, and entitled to rank high among the patriots of the country, and the sufferers in the best of causes.

Mr. Lawson is, we confess, a courageous man. He asserts strongly; he calumniates boldly; and, it will not be his fault, if the Puritans, and all their abettors, are not henceforth consigned to

The Life and Times of William Laud, D.D. Lord Archbishop of Canterbury. By John Parker Lawson, M.A. 2 vols. 8vo. Price £1. 8s. London: C. J. and G. Rivington. 1829.

N. S. No. 51. VOL. XII.

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